Tent



Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

My present invention relates to tents, and this application for patentis a continuation in part of my. present copending patent applicationfor the tent, Serial No. 535,602, filed May 15, 1944,

.terminatingin Patent. N 0. 2,393,415, issued J anuary 22, .1946.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to. provide a noveland simply constructedfolding floor for my tent,.a feature thereofbeing. the'provision-of simple means for. securing the frame. of thetent thereto when the floor is unfolded, and inqwhichzsuch means does:not. interfere. with the compact folding; of thefioor.

An. important; object of this invention is th provision of. asi-mplerigid frame surrounding the upper ends or portions of the uprightsof.the tent frame so that various-portions of theupper part of the framemay be rigidly secured together.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a tent coveringfor the sides of the tent which may be made in only twopieces, eachextending around. approximately one-half of the tent, andin-whichentrance and exit means may be provided between theadjacent-ends of the two pieces, and also in which such ends may beconnected together to close the tent openings, a featureof such tentcovering being the detachable securing of'the upper and-lower edges ofthetwo pieces to theframe of the tent.

A further important object of this invention is to provide bunks orberths at the opposite sides of the tent, andbunks'or berths havingrigid supporting rails provided with simple means for-detachablysupporting the same on the tent uprights; and further in which the sameare 'so supported and connected to the uprights that they may be readilydetached while the; tent is in an erected condition.

A novel feature of this invention is to provide uprights of suchcross-section which. are extremely rigid and which. may be readilyfabricated, and members which are so constructed that the side. and endrails of the bunks or berths may be readily connected or securedthereto.

A still further important object of this invention is to provide. aberth for a tent of this class in which the intermediate portions of;the side rails thereof are readily supported or reinforced with respectto the floor or bottom of" the tent,

and supports of this class which may be readily installed or removed asand when desired.

Another novel featureof this invention is the construction of one ofsuch berth supports as a ladder so that an upper berth may be readilymounted.

Still another important object of this invention is the provision ofnovelty arranged andconnected crossrbraces for the frame members. at theopposite sides of the tent.

A still further important object of this invention is to provide a tenthaving entrance and exit openings at the opposite sides, and a diagonalwall or curtain separating the tent into separate compartments so thateach has a separate openin from the outside, a novel feature of thisarrangement being the provision of separatecompartments for berths.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, I havedevised a tent having certain novel features of construction,combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, as willbehereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in'the-vappended claims, reference being had to the. accompanying drawings andto the characters of reference thereon, which form a part of thisapplication, in which:

Fig. 1 is a-plan view of my tent in a preferred for-m of construction, aportion thereof being broken away and in section to facilitate theillustration, the section'being taken approximately on the line ll ofFig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view thereof, with a portion thereof insection, the section being taken approximately at 2-2 of Fig. 1 andportions being broken away to facilitate the illustration;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged edge view of'thetent floor in. a folded condition,the dotted line arrows showing the unfolding movement of theseveralfloor sections;

Fig. 4- is anenlarged fragmentary section showing; the manner ofsecuring the'tent uprights to the floors;

Fig. 5. is a fragmentary perspective view showing one, pair of connectedtent uprights, which are collapsible with respect to each other;

Fig.6 is an enlargedv fragmentary section, taken at 66 of Fig. 2,showing the manner of securing the rigid horizontal framemembersof theframe to the upper ends of thecorner uprights;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectionalelevation taken atJ-I of Fig.1, showing the manner of. securing the-rigid horizontal framernembersand diagonal bracesto the upper ends of the inner uprights;

Fig. 8 is afragmentary elevation. showing the mounting of one end of thelong bed rail upon one of the uprights;

Fig. 9- isa fragmentary sectional view thereof in plan taken at .9'8 ofFig. 8;

Fig.v 10 isan enlarged sectional view of one side of the tent, takenthrough |E!!fl. of Fig. 1, show ing the relation of the superimposedbeds or berthsabove. the front of the tent and the manner of supportingthe same with respect to each other-intermediate, the ends of theberths;

Fig. 11 isan. enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view, takenthrough H-|l of Fig. 2, showing the manner of securing the diagonalbraces, to. the center pole of the-tent; ;and,

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view of the latter construction,taken at |2|2 of Fig. 11.

The floor of my tent is so constructed that the whole tent is supportedor built thereupon. This floor, designated is foldable, so that it maybe readily transported. It consists of a center section I and endsections l and I", the end sec-.

tions being located below the berths at the opposite sides of the tent.The section l is pivotally connected at one edge by a hinge 3, to oneedge of the center section l the pivotal axis lying substantially in theplane of the bottom of the center section. One edge of the end sectionis pivotally connected by a hinge 2 to the opposite edge of the centersection, the pivotal axis of the latter hinge lying in the plane of theupper side of the center section, as shown best in Fig. 3. In. thismanner the section l may be folded under the" center section l and whenunfolded, all the sections I l and I lie in the same plane.

The frame of the tent consists primarily of four pairs of uprights,these upright being designated, respectively, II and l2, and they arecollapsibly connected by foldable jack-knife links i3. The cross-sectionof the uprights consists of cylindrical sections of approximatelythreefourths of a circle in extent, as indicated by I l and |2 in Fig.5, and flanges II and I2, which extend laterally from the ends of thecylindrical portions. The ends of the jack-knife links l3 are pivotallyconnected to such flanges.

The corners of the end sections l and of the floor have upwardlyextending threaded studs |4, formed by carriage bolts extending upwardlyfrom the bottom of these floor sections. Similar upwardly extendingthreaded studs |5 are provided along the end edges of these end sectionsof the floor, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The uprights II and i2 havefeet II and I2", which are secured over these studs and fastened bymeans of wing nuts l6. Thus the four pairs of connected uprights aresecured to and extend upwardly from the floor, one pair being positionedat each side of the median line of the tent, and at the front and backsides thereof.

The upper ends of these uprights are rigidly secured together by fourhorizontal bars 2| and 22, the same being positioned on edge at theouter sides of the uprights. These bars are preferably Wood and they aresubstantially hung from the upper ends of the uprights. The hangers 23for these bars have U-shaped portions 23 for receiving the bars andflanges 23 at the upper ends. These flanges extend over studs 24 whichextend upwardly from the uprights, as shown in Figs. 6 and '7, theflanges being secured in position by nuts 25. It will be noted that thebars 2| and 22 are hung from the corner uprights II and secured to thesame stud 24 thereon.

Secured to the upwardly extending studs 24 on the inner uprights I2 arethe ends of rigid diagonal braces 3|, these braces extending diagonallyacross the tent between the inner uprights, or between the innerportions of the opposite ends of the berths as will be hereinafterdescribed. The diagonal braces 3| extend only to the middle portion ofthe tent and terminate at the center post 32 thereof. The center posthas a fitting 33 near the upper end which provides an annular channelaround the post. The flange 33 forming such annular channel has fourrecesses 33 therein in which the inner ends of the diagonal braces 3|lie. The inner ends of these braces have enlargements or shoulders 3hwhich fit into the annular channel and retain the" inner ends of.

the braces. These enlargements or shoulders are held downwardly by meansof a collar 34, which is held in its downward position by a thumb screw35 thereby holding the inner ends of the diagonal braces rigidly inposition.

The sides of the tent are enclosed by two members which are in the formof two pieces of canvas 4|. The upper and lower edges of these pieceshave eyelets 42 which extend over and are retained by pins or fasteners43 used for such purpose. Entrance and exit means are provided betweenthe lateral edges of these side wall pieces or members 4 I which areseparable at the median line of the tent, i. e., midway between theinner uprights I2. These lateral edges of the members 4| may be joinedby snaps or zipper-like fasteners 44 in order to enclose the tent.

The tent is provided with an inclined top 46, the center of which issupported at the upper end of the center pole 32, and the edges of whichextend over the upper edges of the side wall members 4| and are alsoprovided with eyelets 41 which are secured over the ends of the grommets43.

At each side of the tent, i. e., at each side of the median line areprovided bunks or berths. In the drawings are shown two pairs ofsuperimposed bunks or berths C and D. Each of these berths have longside rails 5| and short end rails 52, and these support a flexible bedor berth member 53. The ends of the rigid end members 52 are bolted tothe outer flanges l and I2 of the uprights II and I2, as shown best inFig. 9. The ends of the long rails 5| are provided with fittings 54having sockets 54 which extend over the ends of the rails. Thesefittings have long narrow shanks 54 which extend into vertical slots andI2 in the cylindrical portions Il and I2 of the uprights, these slotsbeing positioned immediately adjacent the flanges N and I2". Theseshanks 54 have slots 54 therein forming hooks, which straddle thecylindrical portions of the uprights immediately below the slots H andI2 therein, and thus secure the side rails 5| in position. The shanks 54are sufficiently long so that the hooks may be raised from engagementwith the portions below the slots and shifted inwardly, i. e., into theinterior of either of the uprights H and I2, thus permitting the hookportions at the opposite end of each side rail to be withdrawn from itsrespective slot, thereby permitting in turn the first mentioned ends tobe removed from their slots.

The intermediate portions of the berths, i. e., the middle portions ofthe side rails of the berths, are supported by substantially verticalbraces 6| and 62. The lower ends of these braces have feet 6| and 62which may be secured to the front by pins, screws, or wing nuts. Theupper ends of these braces are provided with U-shaped saddles Sl and 62respectively, in which the intermediate portions of the rails 5| looselyrest. These braces are also provided intermediate their ends withrecessed ledges 6| and 62 into which the long side rails of the lowerberth D are positioned and rest. The side rails of the lower berthlargely prevent the lower ends of the braces from expanding laterally.These braces 6| and 62 support the intermediate portions of the berthsto reduce sagging and breaking to a minimum.

The inner brace 62 is preferably in the form of a narrow ladder and isprovided with rungs 62 so that the upper berths C may be readilymounted.

A dividing curtain or curtain wall H is provided at the middle of thetent for dividing the same into separate compartments. This curtain hasrings 12 at its upper end which are strung over the diagonal braceelements 8| which are in alignment, the curtain 1| extending to theopposite sides of the center post 32. This curtain may be withdrawn fromits opposite edges toward the center post. With this arrangement of thecurtain wall H, the tent may be divided into two separate compartments,each having a separate entrance and exit and each having separateberths.

If means are desired for anchoring the tent to the ground, guys 8| maybe provided. The upper ends of the guys may be secured to eye bolts 82,which may be secured to and extend through holes at the upper portionsof the uprights II, as indicated by H in Fig. 5. These eye bolts areshown positioned below the horizontal upper bars 2|, as indicated inFig. 6, and below the edge of the top covering 46, as shown in Fig. 2.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction,combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to belimited to the same, but desire to include in the scope of my inventionthe construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portionssubstantially as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a tent, a rigid frame, and a pair of tent covering elements, oneextending around each of opposite halves of the frame and secured at theupper and lower edges thereto, there being provided at each side of thetent, between the adjacent edge portions of said tent covering elements,an opening for entrance and exit, and means for separably connecting theadjacent edge portions of said elements.

2. In a tent, an upright having a cross-section consisting ofthree-quarters of a cylindrical portion having flanges radiating fromthe edges of the cylindrical portion, the portions of the cylindricalportion adjacent the flanges having vertical slots.

3. In a tent, pairs of uprights positioned at the opposite sides of themedian line, said pairs being also positioned at the opposite sides ofthe tent, the uprights at opposite sides of the tent being locatedsubstantially in parallel planes normal to said median line and rigiddiagonal braces, each connecting the innermost upright of one pair withthe corresponding upright of another pair positioned at the oppositeside of the median line and at the opposite side of the tent.

4. In a tent, uprights positioned at the opposite sides of the tent,berths comprising long side rails extending between the uprights at theopposite sides, and vertical supports supporting the intermediateportions of the side rails from the bottom of the tent.

5. In a tent, uprights positioned at the opposite sides of the tent,superimposed berths, each having long side rails supported at their endson said uprights, and supports removably supporting the intermediateportions of the side rails above the bottom of the tent and thecorresponding side rails of the superimposed berths with respect to eachother.

6. In a tent, uprights positioned at the opposite sides of the tent,superimposed berths, each having long side rails supported at their endson said uprights, and supports removably supporting the intermediateportions of the side rails above the bottom of the tent and thecorresponding side 8 rails of the superimposed berths with respect toeach other, the supports for the innermost side rails of the berthsbeing in the form of ladders to facilitate mounting of the uppermostberths.

7. In a tent, a covering therefor having an opening at each of oppositesides for entrance and exit, and a curtain wall extending diagonallyacross the interior of the tent, dividing the same into separatecompartments, each of the compartments having one of the openings.

8. In a tent, a covering therefor having an opening at each of oppositesides for entrance and exit, a center post, and a curtain wall extendingdiagonall from said center post to the opposite sides of the interior ofthe tent, dividing the same into separate compartments, each of thecompartments having one of the openings.

9. In a tent, a covering therefor having an opening at each of oppositesides for entrance and exit, a curtain wall extending diagonally acrossthe interior of the tent to the opposite sides thereof, dividing thesame into separate compartments, each of the compartments having one ofthe openings, and a berth in one of the compartments.

10. In a tent, a covering therefor having an opening at each of oppositesides for entrance and exit, a curtain wall extending diagonally acrossthe interior of the tent to the opposite sides thereof, dividing thesame into separate compartments, each of the compartments having one ofthe openings, and a berth in each of the compartments, said curtain wallextending diagonally between the opposite ends of the berths.

11. In a tent, a frame comprising a pair of uprights having verticalslots at their adjacent sides, and a rigid cross-member having hookportions at its ends adapted to extend into said 40 vertical slots andto straddle the portions of the uprights below the slots, each of thehook portions having a slot extending upwardly from its lower edge forreceiving the portion of the upright below the vertical slot throughwhich the respective hook portion extends, the internal width of each ofthe uprights being equal to at least twice the width of the portion ofthe hook disposed outwardly from the slot of each hook portion of thecross-member, so that upon upward movement of the cross-member todisengage its hooks from the lower ends of the slots, the cross-memberis shiftable in a horizontal direction to project one of said hookportions through the slot in one upright a sufficient distance to causeretraction of the hook portion at the opposite end of the cross-memberfrom the slot of the opposite upright.

NATHAN ROSENFELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,008,685 Wildman Nov. 14, 19111,228,360 Surber Aug. 28, 1917 1,238,360 Surber Aug. 28, 1917 1,828,656Handler Oct. 20, 1931 1,961,915 Salmen June 5, 1934 2,185,588 Datz Jan.2, 1940 2,274,047 Derman Feb. 24, 1942 2,393,415 Rosenfeld Jan. 22, 1946

